Cathy Davidson comments: White House office studies benefits of video games
This summer, when your kids' favorite science museum boasts a new augmented-reality environmental simulation? Same deal. If in the next few years a video game teaches you anything — how to conserve energy, eat a balanced diet or solve quadratic equations — consider the invisible hand of one of the most unconventional White House hires in recent memory.

Wine Notes: House wines now have room for oenophiles
Gone are the days when you took your chances ordering the house wine at a restaurants. Now, unusual and interesting pours abound.

Obama Shoots for Political Score on Housing in SOTU
President Obama seemed regretful last year that he had not taken more aggressive action to turn around the collapsing housing sector. Ever cautious and indecisive, the White House shied away from any bold steps that did not guarantee a clear-cut political victory. Instead, the administration repeatedly clung to the simplest, least-controversial initiatives, papering over problems with piecemeal ...

John Henry: Railroading the Mentally Ill
They took John Henry to the White House, And buried him in the san’, And every locomotive come roarin’ by, Says there lays that steel drivin’ man . . .

A Google-a-Day Puzzle for Jan. 10
Our good friends at Google run a daily puzzle challenge and asked us to help get them out to the geeky masses. Each day’s puzzle will task your googling skills a little more, leading you to Google mastery.